Despite the rain, hundreds of supporters, friends, relatives, colleagues came to say their farewell to the late Cebu Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez.
They came in 50 vehicles – buses, cars, and motorcycles – which escorted the vice governor’s remains placed atop a flat-bed truck filled with white a nd yellow flowers and with honor guards from the Crystal Palace-Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes to his final resting place at the Mactan Memorial Garden.
At around past 11am yesterday, flat-bed truck bearing Sanchez’s remains from Crystal Palace-Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in upland barangay Busay, Cebu City down to the streets in Lahug passing by Escario.
About 12 honor guards from the 511th Naval Reserve Squadron escorted his funeral cortege up to the Capitol grounds and towards Redemptorist Church.
At 12:15pm, a 10-minute stop where Capitol officials paid their final respects for the late vice governor was held at the Capitol grounds.
Acting vice governor Agnes Magpale, all dressed in white clothes greeted the family together with Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s chief of staff, Elizabeth Francia and Provincial Administrator Eduardo Habin.
Capitol security units and security guards also gave their final salute to Sanchez.
Some of his staff brought with them posters with a sign that says, “We love you Sir Greg”. With umbrellas and posters in their hands, they walked from Capitol grounds towards Redemptorist Church.
Sanchez’s former body guards who were recalled by Garcia were also present to escort him for the last time.
Black shirts bearing “Cebu loves Vice Governor Greg” were worn by most of his family members and relatives and some staff.
It was past 1 p.m. when his remains arrived at Redemptorist Church.
At the church, reservists from the Philippine Navy also welcomed and saluted the vice governor.
At past 2:30 p.m., the funeral cortege commenced from the church towards Mactan Memorial Garden.
At past 3:30 p.m., Sanchez’s remains arrived at Mactan Memorial Garden where full military honors were given by the Philippine Navy.
Being the commanding officer of the naval reserve, the military honors were their last respect for him.
A company of at least 30 naval reservists gave full military honors for their commanding officer including a 21-gun salute.
Sanchez’s tomb was made of marble and was decorated by flowers. The floor of his burial site was also filled with white calachuchi flowers.
Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu 4th district), who was at the area, said that it was Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung who decorated the venue for Sanchez’s burial.